Correlation between the diameter of the main renal artery and the presence of an accessory renal artery: sonographic and angiographic evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the diameter of the main renal artery is an indicator of the presence of an accessory renal artery in sonographic examination.

METHODS: Of cases undergoing renal intraarterial digital subtraction angiography for any reason, those with no renal arterial disease detected on digital subtraction angiography were included in the investigation. Accessory renal arteries were disclosed by digital subtraction angiographic examinations. The dimensions of the kidney were measured sonographically. The lowest, highest, and mean values of diameters of main renal arteries were determined by sonography and angiography in both the group with accessory renal arteries and the group without accessory renal arteries.

RESULT: Of kidneys with sonographically normal dimensions, angiographic evaluation was made in 107, and sonographic evaluation was made in 97, the renal arteries of which could be visualized optimally. Both radiologic methods showed that diameters of main renal arteries were significantly smaller in the presence of the accessory renal artery (P < .001, Student t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and receiver operating characteristic curve).

CONCLUSIONS: In sonographic examination, the presence of the main renal artery with a diameter smaller than usual in a kidney with normal dimensions is indicative of the presence of an accessory renal artery. Taking this into account, we can obtain higher rates of detection of accessory renal arteries in sonographic examinations.